Discharge controlling and sealing means for collapsible tubes



Nov. 16, 1954 w. H. ELLIOT 7 2,694,507

DISCHARGE CONTROLLING AND SEALING MEANS FOP COLLAPSIBL-EZ TUBES Filed Sept. 11. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG-.4 PIGnS FIG-.6

2.9 mm r IN! 33 1 H 12 INVENTORI N V- 1954 w. H. ELLIOT DISCHARGE CONTROLLING AND SEALING MEANS FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11, 1950 FIG-.7

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INVENTOR Mam/v. W

United States Patent DISCHARGE CONTROLLING AND SEALING MEANS FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES William H. Elliot, Whitefish Bay, Wis.

Application September 11, 1950, Serial No. 184,203

1 Claim. (Cl. 222-92) This invention relates to collapsible tubes and more particularly to discharge controlling and sealing means for such containers.

A primary object of this invention is to provide discharge controlling and sealing means for collapsible tubes which is carried by the tube and which will maintain the contents of the tube clean and free from deterioration and tend to curtail waste of the contents.

A further object is to provide means of the character aforestated which is use will not require detachment and replacement of any part thereof.

Another object is to provide means of the character aforestated which in normal use allows the issuance of only a predetermined amount of the contents and then automatically seals the orifice against further discharge therethrough as a function of squeeze of the tube incident to the discharge effected.

A further object is to provide means of the aforestated character which will afford sealing even though the user fails to squeeze the tube after preparing to do so.

A still further object is to provide a construction which is exceptionally simple, inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to operate.

Various other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

For a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and the specific objects obtained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described.

Of the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the invention in sealed condition.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of this embodiment but showing the tube open for discharge when squeezed.

Fig. 3 illustrates an optional detail of this embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of an alternate construction embodying the principles of the invention in sealed condition.

Fig. 5 is a top view of this alternate construction.

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 4 but showing the tube open.

Fig. 7 depicts a variation of this second construction.

Fig. 8 is a side view of another embodiment of this invention in the sealed position.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig. 1, a collapsible tube 10, shown in part, has flexible walls 11, a conical shoulder 12, a cylindrical neck 13 enclosing a chamber 14, a cylindrical head 15 with an endwall 16 enclosing a chamber 17. The head 15 is provided with an orifice 18 in its cylindrical wall and an axially located opening 19 in the endwall 16.

A piston 20 provided with an integral operating stem 21 is designed to slide freely, but with only a small clearance, within chamber 17. Piston 20 has suflicient length to cover completely the orifice 18 when said piston is disposed as shown in Fig. l. The internal diameter of neck 13 is appreciably greater than the diameter of piston 20.

It has been found that even if the piston 20 is made hollow, as may be desirable in practice, no wasteful captivation of contents is caused thereby, since the air occluded in such cavity prevents entry of the contents thereinto.

With the piston 20 in the position depicted in Fig. 1 and held there by the internal pressure and viscosity of the contents 65 of the tube, it is apparent that the orifice 18 is sealed or blocked, so that with any reasonable amount of pressure applied externally to the walls 11 of 2,694,507 Patented Nov. 16, 1954 the tube there can be no issuance of the contents. Furthermore, this seal forestalls hardening or deterioration of the contents of the tube such as would result from exposure to the air.

To effect discharge of a portion of the contents of the tube, the piston 20 is displaced downwardly to a position such as depicted in Fig. 2 by application of a force to the end of stem 21. This displacement unblocks the orifice 18 and also throws the then empty chamber 17 into communication with the larger diameter chamber 14 simultaneously increasing the pressure on the contents of chamber 14. Assuming proper proportioning of parts the contents of the tube now tend to fill chamber 17, and if the flow be aided by pressure applied externally to the flexible walls 11 of the tube, the chamber 17 will be quickly filled. Also, the increased internal pressure which causes this flow of contents simutlaneously forces the piston 20 back into chamber 17 causing ejection of the contents of chamber 17 through orifice 18 and also sealing of the orifice forthwith.

As regards proportioning of parts, it will be understood that reference is made to ratio of neck to piston diameter and that the character of the container contents should be taken into account in proportioning the parts. For example, a ratio of 1.25/1 to 1.5/1 has been found satisfactory for certain of the commercial toothpastes, whereas a thinner substance might require a change in ratio to less than 1.25/1.

Neck 13 may be provided. if desired, with integrally formed ribs 22 as depicted in Fig. 3 extending into chamber 14 to guide piston 20.

Optionally, the conical shoulder 12 may extend to the cylindrical head 15, omitting the cylindrical neck 13. It may be found advantageous to make at least the inner surface of endwall 16 of conical shape thereby to facilitate the entry of stem 21 into opening 19 in production assembling.

A further optional feature is that of providing a spline 23 on stem 21 and cooperating with a groove 24 in endwall 16; the spline leaving the groove when the piston is in the position shown in Fig. 1, so that if the stem 21 is then rotated, the alignment between the spline and the groove may be disturbed thereby to lock the piston 20 in the sealed position.

Referring to Fig. 4, a collapsible tube 10, shown in part, has flexible walls 11 a conical shoulder 25 enclosing a chamber 26, and a cylindrical head 27 with an endwall 28 enlosing a chamber 29. The shoulder 25 is provided with an opening 30. The head 27 is provided with an axially located orifice 31. Optionally, the shoulder 25 may be a flat endwall joining the flexible walls 11 with the head 27 or may be a series of conical and cylindrical steps. a

A piston 32 is integrally joined to an operating stem 33 by a connecting structure 34. Piston 32 slides freely, but with only small clearance, within chamber 29, and may be guided in chamber 26 by internal ribs 35 provided as an integral part of the conical shoulder 25. Ribs 35 also provide additional bearing surface for stem 33 and increased strength for the shoulder 25.

With the piston 32 in the raised position depicted in Fig. 4 and maintained there by the internal pressure and viscosity of the contents of the tube, it is obvious that the orifice 31 is sealed against issuance of the contents of the tube and the contents in turn are sealed against hardening or deterioration.

To effect discharge of a portion of the contents of the tube, the piston 32 is displaced downwardly to a position such as depicted in Fig. 6 by application of a force to the upper end of stem 33. This displacement unblocks the orifice 31 and increases the pressure within the body of the tube 10 The contents within the body of the tube and chamber 26 now tend to fill chamber 29, and if this flow be aided by pressure applied externally to the flexible walls 11 of the tube, the chamber 29 will be quickly filled. The resulting increased internal pressure further forces the piston 32 back into chamber 29 causing ejection of the contents of the chamber 29 through orifice 31 and sealing of the orifice forthwith.

Fig. 7 shows a modification of the structure depicted in Figures 4, 5 and 6. Here the piston 36 has two symmetrically disposed stems 37 and 38 and an integral connecting structure 39. The shoulder 40 is now provided with two openings 41 and 42 to accommodate the stems 37 and 38, respectively.

It will be recognized that many other such variations in design may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and principles of this invention. For example, it will be obvious that the piston and its stem may be separate instead of unitary, the stem being provided with an end flange or other means to retain it in the container and the piston being designed to have an end face or a peripheral part to underlie the stem according to whether the parts are axially aligned as in Fig. l or oifset as in Fig. 4 or Fig. 7.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a cap employing the principles of this invention, which cap may be attached to a tube of ordinary construction. A collapsible tube container shown in part, has flexible body walls 11 a conical shoulder 45, and an externally threaded neck 46 provided with an orifice 47. A cap 48 threaded internally in part to accommodate the threaded neck 46 of the tube 10 is provided with a body 49 enclosing a chamber 50, a conical shoulder 51 enclosing a chamber 52, a neck 53 with an endwall 54 enclosing a chamber 55 and provided with an orifice 56, preferably of a slot-like nature and transversely disposed.

A piston 57 provided with an operating stem 58 normally occupies the chamber 55. The upper portion of this stem 58 may be provided With a spline 59 cooperating with a groove in the endwall 54.

With the piston 57 in the position depicted in Fig. 9, initially locked in such position by the spline 59, the orifice 56 is sealed and pressure exerted on the tube body 11 will cause no issuance of the contents from the container except to fill chambers 50 and 52. To elfect discharge of a portion of the contents of the tube, the piston 57 is unlocked and displaced downwardly to a position within the chamber 50 by application of a' force to the upper end of stem 58. This displacement unblocks the orifice 56 and increases the pressure within the body of the tube. The contents within the chamber 50 and the body of the tube now tend to fill chamber 55, and if this flow be aided by pressure applied externally to the flexible walls 11 of the tube, the chamber 55 will be quickly sealing of the container should the container not be squeezed after depressing the plunger, it is contemplated to provide means therefor. Various means are contemplated, the means selected for illustration being the spring 60 shown in Fig. 9 as being interposed between the piston and a shoulder 61 within the cap.

While, in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated and described the best forms of embodiment of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the spirit and principles of my invention as set forth in the appended claim.

filled. The resulting increased internal pressure forces the piston 57 back into chamber ejecting the contents of this chamber through orifice 56 and sealing the orifice forthwith.

Wherever it is deemed necessary or desirable to insure I claim:

A collapsible container carrying discharge controlling and sealing means, said means comprising a cylindrical head integral to said container and having a lateral discharge opening and an interfitting piston having a partially splined operating stem, said head and piston in a given relation sealing the container and in another relation opening said cylinder to receive a charge of the contents of the container and unsealing said lateral opening for discharge of such charge for use, said operating stem extending through an end opening in said cylinder head and affording accessible means for manual movement of said piston from sealing limit to another limit and said piston having a surface exposed to the contents of the container for return thereby from the latter limit to sealing as a function of pressure exerted externally of the container, said piston and the passage afforded from the container to said cylinder being proportioned for sealing of the container as an incident to discharge from the container of a predetermined isolated quantity of its contents, and said splined operating stem coacting with the walls of a spline receiving groove provided in said head for prevention of relative rotation thereof except when in sealing relation and then to afford at will locking of said head and piston in sealing relation by relative rotation thereof to bring into abutting relation with a part of said head one end of the spline of said stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,735,076 Ellis Nov. 12, 1929 1,980,473 coifelder Nov. 13, 1934 2,125,572 Johnston Aug. 2, 1938 2,529,554 Katzmann Nov. 14, 1950 

